That topic
is reserved only for a specific group of people. It’s strongly associated with
football but sometimes we can see similar actions on other sport arenas. For
some supporters the main purpose of going to some event is to watch a competition
between opposite teams. However, there is a group of people which has quite a different
idea how to spend time during a sport spectacle. The official term that describes them is
“ultras”. Much before the match they think what to show, how to do it and which
resources to use. Effect of their work (only in a situation when there were no
problems with organization, attendance at a particular stadium and a few other
factors) looks like the following:
I have to
say that personally I’m the supporter of Legia so the selection of photos and
videos is rather subjective.
People
responsible for show organization in stadiums often refer to anniversaries of
important moments in history. Another special occasion to prepare a show can be
when supporters of teams are officially “friends” or the team is playing in the
finals of the tournament like the Polish Cup. Below, examples of something
prepared for the anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising:
Ultras is
something that you treat as your style of life, something incredibly important.
Sometimes, their way of understanding what they are doing and ways of showing
their loyalty to the team can be controversial
Some
materials are officially forbidden for use in stadiums, especially flares which
are dangerous in hands of an irresponsible person. Official football associations
punish clubs which supporters brake those rules. This year, European Football
Association (UEFA) has imposed a penalty on Legia after one of the matches (one
of the reasons was using the flares). Those groups of supporters, which I
mentioned before, decided to answer with another show:
After that,
UEFA closed the stadium for fans for the next match in the European Cups. Was
it worth it? Probably not, but those people have some other idea about that.
What is
your opinion about shows made by ultras in stadiums? Do you like their work or
in your opinion it shouldn’t exist at all?
Excellent topic! I believe that the Ultras movement is deeply associated with football. If we look at the recent activities it’s hard to image a ban on pyrotechnics or the movement. Most people which are not too interested in watching the game come to see the “show”. If that would be removed we would have “quite” and quite boring (from the stadium atmosphere point of view) matches like they have in the UK. Most people which have never been to a Legia Warszawa game would say that the recent incidents were not needed and the club suffered financially – which is true, but without the fanatical fans the club would not be that it is now…
ReplyDeleteUltra's shows can be really beautiful and it's amazing to see so many people taking part in one project just for their favorite team. Personally, I was a part of few ultras in my early days, when my brother took me to basketball matches (we were always more into basketball, probably because our city's football team has never achieved anything). However, I can totally respect the decision to ban the flares and other dangerous items from appearing during those shows. As we all know, fanatics (in every matter) can be somehow unpredictable.
ReplyDeleteI love those kind of shows, although when I am on a stadium, and there's someone burnign up a flare behind me, I don't feel very comfortable with it. I've got hair, and I'd like to still have them when I get out of a game...
ReplyDeleteHowever, those are some kind of spectaculars play, like in a theatre, but involves much more people. Some kind of a flash mob, but better. It's a unification of fans in one cause. That I love!
I think that every sport has its own traditions. European football clubs were founded many years ago. Each club has some color, a symbol and a specific song. These songs are sung by all the ultras of football club in the stands during the match. In this way, they try to support their team and express a emotions. I do not see nothing wrong with that. More, I really like it.
ReplyDeleteMartyna and (especially) Dalvia, what do you think about situation when flares and other potentially dangerous materials would be operated by professionals? Could you agree for that way of doing it or those shining, smoky parts are needless?
ReplyDeleteThe topic is quite controversial. This kind of participation in a game is amazing and shows the committment in the efforts of the team. As I recall from the different interviews, the most of players actually loves this kind of support. In the most cases it gives them the extra power and encourages them to go all out for victory. On the other hand some fans may not know the difference between support and aggression. In a large groups their behaviour may be risky and they may not entirely control their emotions. That is why it is understandable that the officials banned the flares and other potentialy dangerous materials.
ReplyDeleteAs an example of the interesting support you may check the one of South Koreans http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTEcMiY2j4I.
I agree with Martyna and respect UEFA’s decision. On the other hand, I think that football clubs have limited influence over their fanatical fans. But as Przemysław mentioned, at the end of a day, clubs without their fans wouldn’t be the same so clubs and fans should support each other. I really like the response to UEFA’s ban and suppose that sometime such shows can be more interesting than the football match itself. I wonder if organisers are more focused on events or football. I guess that such actions are logistically challenging....
ReplyDeleteKasia I wouldn't compare fans responsible for special effects (like mentioned flares) with those which make brawls on and around stadiums. Those materials are officially banned because they are dangerous in general (according to opinion of police and fire department). There were some tries to force agreement that flares and other "hot" stuff would be operated by people hired specially for this but it's impossible unless football association in Poland and Europe change the law. So all pyrotechnics are still used by "regular spectators" which makes them more dangerous and as a result - forbidden. The vicious circle
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion football owes its fame to fans. Ultras prepare flags, cartons and whole show. They lead doping, persuade others to sign and by that football is beautiful. A few pranks can't affect the all ultras. Many people don't understand this idea because they have never been to the stadium.
ReplyDeleteI highly recommend visit the stadium of Legia and hear "Sen o Warszawie" sung by 30000 fans. This is a magical and unforgettable moment.
Just look:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HVwsHDFRCo
I’ve never been in a stadium, and I’m not interested in football, so it’s hard for me to say anything… But certainly, there is something magical about it.
ReplyDeleteKasia Kmieć – the clip you posted is impressive. I guess it’s possible only in Korea or China – they are very disciplined.
Yoshi, what you propose is of course reasonable and may work, but I'm afraid it would be hard to check if people holding flairs are all the "professionals". To be honest, I believe that the groups of fanatics strongly stick together and, as I saw on some forum boards before, they tend to defend their mates even when they commited a crime or showed an aggressive behaviour. It wouldn't be a surprise for me if one of the chosen professionals hand some of the flairs to his bald, cocky friend, "because he asked me to". Next thing is, a flair is thrown right into the player's face and we have a tragedy.
ReplyDeleteBehaviour like passing flare to friend obviously brakes that kind of agreement so let assume that it wouldn't happen. People responsible for preparing shows are not idiots (as they are able to manage that amount of complicated work), I'm pretty sure that if they had occasion to do their work legally they would be able to cooperate according to defined rules.
ReplyDeleteThrowing flares is same category as throwing knifes or other dangerous items - it should be punished with full severity
I defenetly prefer korean ultras. They really awesomes. Made that mucha people to do that big things...
ReplyDeletelook at this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6R1n7pf_riE
they must spend a really lot of time to synchro all this. I really respect them.
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ReplyDeleteFollow the Łukasz. "Sen o Warszawie" by Legia fans was amazing.
ReplyDeleteI not the biggest football fun but I think "żyleta" is our proud in the world. Fans are real 13 player on łazienkowska. Legia so it is a master of Poland. No other club in Poland can boast such a luminaire meetings. Sometimes, however, the fans overreacting and unnecessarily storm political order. Insults on the banners is a bad idea. I thin UEFA sometimes exaggerating with penalties, closing part of the stadium.
That's not why stadiums were built to close them to the faithful fans.
I prefer local stadiums and Polish fans.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9sAqkOlxHg
I was at this game it was a great experience.
Darkia, it's simply impossible to perform something like this on stadium in Poland. The way how it is build (sectors are separated) prevents it. And it's totally different type of show of course.
ReplyDeleteClosing the stadiums is other big topic, in my humble opinion closing even a part of arena is worst what can happen in such case. Collective responsibility usually doesn't work (that is not the exception).
I must admit that I don't know much about the subculture of ultras and I often connect it with agressive behaviour. Maybe I am mistaken and I should be more careful with my judgement.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, such actions can be very suportive for athlets. People want to show their club how much they care for it.
Secondly, if there is no harm being done to anybody I don't know what can be wrong with it. Personally I see it as a kind of hobby. People gather, make effort.
I am not interested in football but I asked my boyfriend about it and he was thriled that we have such subject on our lesson:P
So I got to know that this is not about agression at all. It is about making a show. Ultras want to show how they feel about the athlets. Ronaldo often says that he feels "The breath of Bernabeu" when ultras clap for him in a 7 and 77 minute of the match because he is playing with a 7 on his back.
There is also the most important person among the ultras during the game and he is called "major". He commands everone else what to do and when to do it. He has to be very charismatic person with good voice.
I was suprised that the ultras even do some rehearsals!
This is very popular behaviour in Englad, Turkey, Russia and Poland.
On the other hand, I understand that UEFA doesn't aprove. Ulrtas want to show off and they sometimes use some prohibited stuff . If the ultras become too agressive in their dopping, UEFA can even postpone the game.
All in all I think it would be fun to see such show:)
That is not such a simple issue to me. Sure, entertainment, art elements and just creating specific, proper atmosphere are great.. but behind all of those interesting things that indisputably enhance the experience of watching a game lies a not-always-so-nice culture, from what I've observed. A lot of things there are done in a very irresponsible manner, people often don't care whether they're going to harm someone around them with pyrotechnical materials - I've personally seen people throwing them in random directions not even caring that a young person or even an adult might get injured.
ReplyDeleteOne of my friends back in middle school attended a soccer game and as a result left with a severe eye injury because he got hit in the face with a burning fragment. As a result, he had severe retinal injury and his vision got crippled.
Personally I believe there are many great things about the art and entertainment aspects of enhancing soccer atmosphere like this, but there are safety issues and regulations that need to be considered. I think there are some issues with the very culture lying behind those things as well.
I would agree with most of my colleagues. Ultra fun is pretty damn amazing !. It is a great way to support team and pass the message to others who watch a game. However football fans are often very excentric. Sometimes team support is transformed into aggression and fights. We heard many stories about things been thrown from the stands and harm the players. This kind of behaviours should never had place. This is not part of healthy football team support and people who practice this kind of behaviour should to be banned from the stadium at once.
ReplyDelete